What’s happening in Cyprus on sustainability

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natureallydone
in

Cyprus is stitching together a surprisingly green story: schools planting resilient pockets of nature, hotels chasing certification to rebrand tourism, and private recycling infrastructure moving from plan to ground-work. Below I summarise what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next.

What the stories say (short version)

  • Hotels are going Green Key. Cyprus hotels are increasingly adopting the Green Key eco-certification as part of a broader drive to modernise tourism, encourage year-round stays, improve operational efficiency (energy, water, waste, staff training) and strengthen ties with local producers. The move is being supported by Cymepa as the national intermediary and sits alongside public funding earmarked for hotel upgrades. Source: Cyprus Mail
  • School kids are “going green” in their neighbourhoods. The Education Unit’s “I Go Green” project is creating school and neighbourhood green spaces (vegetable gardens, tree-planting and related activities). Forty-four schools are participating so far; the programme costs about €500,000/year, relies on EU grants and national funding after an initial period, and has attracted international interest (UN, UNESCO, other countries). Source: euronews
  • Recycling infrastructure is moving to construction. Green Dot Cyprus just secured a building permit for a 20,000 m² packaging waste management plant in Tseri, designed to handle up to 36,000 tonnes/year (paper and PMD sorting/processing). Construction will start immediately and operations are expected by 2027. The project promises landfill diversion, regulatory compliance with EU law, job creation and local economic benefits. Source: CBN

Why this is important

  • Holistic change: It’s not just one area — education, tourism, and waste management are all getting greener.
  • Long-term impact: Kids learning to care for green spaces may continue those habits into adulthood.
  • Economic + environmental: Making hotels more sustainable can be good for business, and the new recycling plant helps the environment and the economy.

What to watch next

  • Will more hotels apply for Green Key or other eco-labels?
  • How will the “I Go Green” programme grow? Will more schools join?
  • Will the recycling plant actually open on schedule, and how much waste will it really divert from landfills?

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